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That same day, Tadeus decides to have dinner at Gustaph's house after that conversation with his father. — Do you think he'd be capable of doing something like that to my grandmother? — Tadeus asks, as Gustaph pours the white wine.
— You can't be sure — Gustaph says — but you should listen to him.
— He told me he'll send someone to accompany me. Did he say anything to you?
— No — Gustaph replies, and takes a seat. They both begin to eat the carbonara.
— It's delicious — Tadeus comments. He notices that his friend doesn't seem very expressive — What about your daughter? Have you been able to see her?
— She doesn't live in the city. I'll go see her when this whole Animal business is over — Gustaph replies — Now that I mention it, tell me how that's going.
— He took me to his house, but it's obvious it's not a place where he spends much time — Tadeus says — I don't know if I've earned his trust, but he seems to have a… touching, charming side I'd say.
— You're not falling in love with that man, are you? He's a very dangerous man. You should know about the recent disappearances of…
— I'm interviewing the families of the missing people myself. I know there are no bodies, and only one of the three missing men had a criminal record.
Gustaph exhales and puts down his fork and spoon to look directly at him — They all worked for his pharmaceutical company or his foundation.
— I… didn't know that yet — Tadeus says.
— I'm surprised by how confident you are.
— I'm still in the middle of the investigation. You know my work is mainly based on solved cases, and until at least one of the men reappears, or their bodies are found, I can't air it unless the network authorizes a preview.
— No, what surprises me is how confident you are in defending him — Gustaph says, to which Tadeus responds by shaking his head — Once you plant the microphones, you have to stay away from that man, Tadeus. Your father would cut my head off if anything happens to you — Gustaph declares.
For the rest of the dinner, Tadeus decides to remain silent. The idea that Gustaph would even consider something as absurd as a romantic entanglement between him and alias "The Animal" seems ridiculous to him. "I have the right to enjoy and boast about the attention I receive from that man while maintaining my mask to gain his trust. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do?" he asks himself. The mere memory of those warm lips excites him a little, but he doesn't think it's a crime to feel some attraction to someone with whom he spends so much time talking, laughing, or eating. After all, you can't betray someone if there isn't a genuine feeling behind it.
In the morning, Tadeus returns to his apartment to take a shower and eat something when he receives a call from Alexander — Come to my house for lunch, I wanna talk to you — he says.
— Pick me up at the park across from the theater, like that time — Tadeus arrives at the agreed-upon location and gets into Alexander's car as soon as he sees him, heading to his house. Strauss serves lunch, which is pasta in mushroom sauce with grilled chicken and an Asian salad. They chat briefly about the last few days until they finish eating.
Tadeus walks through the living room and pulls back one of the curtains to look out the window, when he realizes it's a sliding glass door — What a beautiful garden — Tadeus remarks. Alexander approaches, pulls back the curtains, and opens the door. The guest takes a few steps toward the garden and stretches his arms out in the air.
— I'll get a blanket — Alexander mentions. He takes a few minutes and returns with a huge, multicolored comforter with multiple antique patterns embroidered in warm colors — I made an apple pie. Would you like some? — Tadeus just smiles, a little surprised by all the preparation. He doesn't really know what to expect from this visit because their interactions have cooled off. He doesn't seem to be making any progress with his plan to hide the microphones, but this is a moment he wants to enjoy. For some reason, his mind keeps returning to him. In his heart, that topic Alexander is so afraid to broach is something he wants to discuss — Where did you learn to cook? — Tadeus asks after eating some pie.
— I was in cooking class in high school — Alexander replies.
— Of course you went to a top-tier private school. Cooking classes? Please! — Tadeus says, stuffing his mouth with cake — At my school, we had electricity or entrepreneurship as mandatory electives.
— I took advanced experimental chemistry as an elective — Alexander says.
— The fact that they had a lab is all I needed to know — Tadeus says feigning disgust as he savors the last bite — Haven't you thought about opening a restaurant? It would be a huge success if we experimented with dishes and offered new flavors.
— It seems to me you already have a whole plan — Alexander says with a smile.
— It's good to have a lot of ideas in mind. Unlike you, I've known about broken dreams.
— You mean acting? I'm sure you can still try it if you join a club. I'd come see you.
— Are you going to keep at it?
— At what?
— Looking at me like that, as if…
— I wanted to kiss you? — Alexander asks, never breaking eye contact. They're sitting across from each other, legs crossed. Tadeus seems to lean toward him, but he's just pushing himself up with his hands.
— I think I should go. I have other plans.
Alexander follows him inside, feeling every frantic beat of his heart in his ear. The mere memory of his hands tearing that photo to pieces isn't enough right now. — Please, stay — he begs, feeling that with each step he's distancing further — I want to spend more time with you and have you closer.
— We can see each other again tomorrow — Tadeus replies, picking up his coat.
— You know I really enjoy spending time with you. Why don't you stay a little longer and we can watch a movie? Or maybe we can play board games all night. I'm very competitive — Alexander says, taking his wrist.
Tadeus smiles, letting out a sigh. — You can't possibly like me enough to play Parcheesi all night.
Alexander frowns in frustration because it takes him a second longer to kiss him. His fingers slide behind Tadeus' ears, reaching his scalp. The journalist's hands move up under the Animal's polo shirt, starting at his lower back and moving up to his shoulders. Alexander breaks the kiss to caress Tadeus' neck and collarbone with his lips as he unbuttons his shirt. When he kisses him again, he cups his face to keep them together as he takes several steps back toward the stairs. They quickly go up the stairs and enter the room with two doors. A spacious bedroom with glass doors leading to a balcony opposite the bed, a small alcove with bookshelves to the right next to the entrance, and the dressing room with bathroom to the left.
There's a huge rug surrounding the bed, on which Tadeus lies down as he returns Alexander's intense kiss.
They remove the rest of their clothes until they're closer to the center of the bed. Alexander reaches for his nightstand, where he takes out lubricant to wet his member and his fingers with it. Then, he proceeds to lubricate Tadeus' insides with his fingers for several seconds, making him sigh.
Then, Alexander positions himself over Tadeus, placing his hands on either side of his head, while Tadeus holds onto Strauss' wrists and nods. Same as Alexander, Tadeus sighs as that member slides smoothly deep inside him. Soft moans escape his throat each time the gentle hip movements brush against the sensitive, lubricated walls of his interior.
— Oh, fuck! — Alexander moans and looks up at the sky as Tadeus holds onto his shoulders and begins to move his hips to pleasure himself. Alexander decides to increase the pace a little, but he remains in control.
Those hands that gripped his shoulders slide down his torso to his waist as Tadeus crosses his ankles to maintain the position until they both reach the peak of pleasure. Alexander places his hands behind Tadeus' back, who wraps his arms around his neck, culminating in a passionate kiss that ends when they are both no longer breathless.
They gaze into each other's eyes in silence. Tadeus brushes Alexander's damp hair behind his ears and presses his lips to his in a simple but lingering kiss.
Once they are both in the shower, Alexander massages his lover's head and rinses the shampoo from his hair with the hand shower. Tadeus rests his face against Alexander's for several seconds. He can't stop thinking about how peaceful the moment is, and of course, he assumes it would be difficult to leave his side once he has finished his task.